Bearing device



Feb.21,1933. QHLEIs' 8 1,898,880

BEARING DEVICE Filed Oct. 2, 1951 Snnenton Gttorneg intervals.

Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL I-LLEIS, OF NEWCASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T9 JOHNSON BRONZE COM- PANY, OF NEWCASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA BEARING DEVICEApplication filed October 2, 1931. Serial No. 566,413.

Myinvention relates to bearings, relating in particular to improvementsf in bearing devices of the self lubricating class.

Ordinarily, where high speed shafts 0r journals are employed in machinesof various kinds, wherein lubrication by either oil or grease is madeuseof in, the bearings, frequent renewals or changing of the lubricantis required to prevent destruction of the bearings by excessive frictionand consequent high temperature. Furthermore, considerable loss oflubricant occurs by leakage at the ends of the bearings and other partsby which the lubricant can escape. Such leakage not only occasionsconsiderable loss of lubricant, but, unless care beta-ken to remove sameat intervals, it spreads over other parts of the machine structure,collects grit, etc., soils that which comes in contact therewith andpresents an uncleanly appearance.

It is the object of my invention to provide bearings, for either shaftsor journals operated at high speed, to reduce the friction thereof byemploying a bearing having dis- 1 posed within its bearing surfaceproper, an

antifriction compound, preferably a compound containing graphite, as thebasic lu-. bricant supplemented by a film, of semiliquid lubricant,automatically provided at Said bearings being especially adapted forapplication in places where oiling' is undesirable or where the bearingsare difficult of access, or likely to be neglected.

By means of my improved bearing, the coefficient of friction issafeguarded and thereby controls the heat generated within its normalrunning temperature, the. life of the same is greatly prolonged;requires no attention for a longer period of time in relation to that ofany other type of oilless bearing; is extremely economical in the use oflubricant, as there is no loss by leakage and requiring a very smallamount of soft lubricant at intervals only. Other advantages will beapparent from the accompanying drawing and description herein given.

In the drawing,

Figure l is a side elevation of a head or support having a sleevebearing therein constituting one embodiment of my invention.

opening 4 therein communicating with the groove, into which is removablyfitted a closure plug 5, which, if preferred maybe in the form of agrease cup, or other closure means.

Fitted within the opening is a bronze bearing sleeve (3, which, when sofitted converts the groove 3 into a substantially air tight reservoir.

The bearing surface of the bushing is provided with a plurality ofspaced bodies of antifriction material, preferably of granular graphitecompound of somewhat porous nature which, in this instance, is in theform of paralled elongated bodies 7 disposed in equidistantly spacedgrooves 8, the grooves being filled therewith while in aplastic'condition and subsequently treated to harden same.

The bushing is further provided with an opening 9, within which isfitted a soft absorbent member or plug 10 of felt, and extends down intothe reservoir.

The reservoir is, in practice, filled with grease 11 of semiliquidnature, being placed therein by a force pump or other means, throusrhthe plug opening 4.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a modification in the form of one of a pair ofsubstantially semicircular hearings, in which the bearing 12 is disoosedwithin a semicircular seat 13,

within a su porting member or housing 14:. The bearing is provided withantifriction bodies 15 of lubricating compound similar to that of thebearin sleeve above described, the underside of said bearing having .apocket or cavity 16 which, when fitted within the support, constitutes areservoir for grease 16'. The bearing is also provided with one or moreopenings 17 within which is fitted a felt absorbent plug 18 extendingin' the ease 19 within the reservoir.

The caring may be emplo ed for either slow or high speed service. t slows ed, the lubricating compound will, of itse f, be sufiicient as alubricant, as it will form a film separating the bearing metal from thatofthe shaft orjournal.

At hi h speed. under certain applications of this tvpe of bearing, thecompound film is not of itself a suflicient lubricant to reduce thefriction to a normal operating temperature.

In practice Assuming that either one of the forms of bearin shown beemployed in connection with 151i h speed shaft or journal, the stablegraphite lubricant not being of itself suificient tomaintain a constantlow friction, the temperature of the bearing will rise beyond theradiating capacity, thus causing the asestored in the reservoir tosoften and automatically feed same to the bearing surface b the caillarity of the absorbent lug, thereby fil in the pores of the stableubricant and also orming a combined compound and grease film between theshaft or ournal and thebearing, thereby lowering the friction. As soonas the grease is thus taken up by the bearing and compound, the frictionwill at once be reduced, causing the temperature to rapidly drop. Thereduction of temperature causes the grease to again thicken, cutting offcapilliary action thereby automaticall cutting oif the grease supply.

The s u p emental lubricant, or rease, taken u by the bearing will besufiicientto permit t e shaft or journal to freely operate r aconsiderable period of time, but 'as' soon as the supply of greasebecomes ineflicient or exhausted, the temperature of the bearing againrises, causing another supply of ease to be automatically taken up bythe aring.

By means of this device efficient lubrication of the hearings will beeffective within 100 degrees F. of the surrounding temperature,depending upon the consistency of the grease em loyed.

y automatically supplying the additional lubricant or grease to thehearing, at intervals under control of abnormal temperature created, itwill be apparent that no attention will be re uired and that onlyinfrequent renewal o grease in the reservoir will be required. V

I have shown and described the grease reservoirs as being in completeform as comprising tWo parts the bearing proper and its support, but, wile I have not. shown it as such, it will be obvious that the reservoirma be wholly formed within the bearing, an be within the spirit of myinvention.

Having thus shown and described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A bearing device comprising a vertically disposed stationary memberhaving :1 laterally projecting hub with a grease reservoir formedtherein and provided with opposite- 1y disposed bearing openings in thewalls t ereof, a sleeve bearing extending through said reservoir andrigidly fitted in said openings there being an opening in the wall ofsald sleeve communicating with the reservoir, a plurality of gra hitelubricatin bodies embedded longitudinally within sai sleeve bearing andextending through the ends thereof, and an absorbent member fittedwithin said sleeve opening and extending from the bearing surface intothe reservoir, said absorbent member adapted to feed greaseto thebearing surface at such intervals only as when the bearing becomesheated sufficient to thin the grease toits feed consistency. 7 1

2. A bearing device comprising a vertically disposed stationary memberhaving a grease reservoir formed therein and provided with oppositelydis sed bearing openings in the walls thereo ,asleeve bearing extendingthrough said reservoir and rigidly secured at its ends in said openings,there being an opening in the under side of the sleeve communicatingwith the reservoir and a plurality of spaced longitudinal grooves withinits bearing surface through the ends thereof, graphitelubricating'material filling said grooves, and a soft absorbent materialfitted in said sleeve opening and extending from the bearing surfacedown into the reservoir, said absorbent material adapted to feedgreaseto the bearing at such intervals onl as will occur when thebearing becomes su ciently heated as to thin the grease to its feedconsistency.

3. A bearing device comprising a stationary member having an integralannular laterally projecting hub with a grease reservoir formedthereinand provided with centrally disposed and opposite sleeve bearingopenings in the wa ls of the reservoir, a sleeve bearing extendin throuh said reservoir and rigidly fixe in sai openings at its ends, saidsleeve having an opening in its underside communicating. with thereservoir and having spaced longitudinal grooves in its bearing surface,a felt absorbent member fitted in said sleeve opening and extending downinto the reservoir, and graphite lubricating material filling saidsleeve grooves, said felt member adapted to feed grease from thereservoir up to the bearing at such intervals only as when the bearingbecomes heated sufficient to thin the grease to its feed consistency.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' CARL H. LEIS'.

